Yellowface: Literary thriller with some deep bookish internet lore

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 18 май 2023
  • Talking about the book expressly made for the bookishly online who's forever thirsty for tea, R.F. Kuang follows up her TikTok fav Babel with the publishing thriller Yellowface to talk smack about the world of writing and maybe even offer up a peek at what it's like to be a bestselling novelist.
    MENTIONED:
    Yellowface - amzn.to/3MI3VQE
    Disorientation Review - • Disorientation: When F...
    Controversy around American Dirt - bit.ly/43a4EzA
    Lauren Hough on Goodreads - bit.ly/41Rqxme
    ELSEWHERE:
    Goodreads: goo.gl/vlGtSd
    Instagram: / daejin
    Discord: / discord
    #Yellowface

Комментарии • 61

  • @merphynapier42
    @merphynapier42 Год назад +70

    This is a top tier review. Loved listening to you pull so much from our little corner of the internet and how it reflected perfectly in this book. I wondered too how much this would land for those not so deeply steeped in the online bookish culture, but if you’re in it, boy oh boy is it on point

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад +5

      Thank you. And RF Kuang is probably as reputable a source out there to discuss internet bookish fame intersecting with racialized identity and being a young female creative online - though honestly I thought the book would be more in the discussion. Maybe it's just too soon after Babel.

  • @joanneorrico1761
    @joanneorrico1761 Год назад +40

    “I demand to speak to a manager white”
    Thank you for this book review and your absolutely delightful way of expressing your views and describing books. Love your videos and book selections.

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад +1

      Thank you, I feel lucky to have a platform like this to just spew nonsense about something I love!

  • @josipon
    @josipon 18 дней назад +1

    added this to my watched later so i could read the book and watched this video… it took me a year to read babel but it was worth it to see this video

  • @BookofMirth
    @BookofMirth Год назад +26

    I didn't expect to be reminded of SoapDickGate in this video but here we are! (Also appreciated hearing your thoughts on the book.)

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад +8

      It's a deep cut but I loved the furor that particular fairy loot box created - dick soap is one thing but one that was so aggressively veiny seemed a tad much.

  • @derlis_whatever7033
    @derlis_whatever7033 Год назад +23

    Your tone is very calming. Im currently readin Yellowface and really enjoying it although it kinda reads like a news article or maybe a thread on twitter and it really feels like she wrote this in like 2 months and just blurted out everything she's been wanting to say about the industry and readers

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад +8

      Right? Just escaped fully formed from the head of Kuang but she's got enough chops to make it a readable thriller with the extra spice of publishing industry tea which I enjoyed thoroughly

    • @timtillack
      @timtillack Год назад +4

      The hint of how this work sprung fully formed from Kuang's mind can be found in the name of Athena 😉

  • @MojiiOkay
    @MojiiOkay Год назад +11

    I liked the book a lot and the audio book is especially effective. I did think the 'climax' was pretty silly, but the actual end that comes after was pitch perfect and really hammers home the oblivious nature of the Juniper character. Great video, really interesting additional insights into the inspirations and analogs.

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад +3

      It helped that during the climax I imagined it happening at the top of the stairs from John Wick 4 - but the finish was spot on given the tone of the rest of the read.

  • @ginnyvanoh
    @ginnyvanoh Год назад +14

    Just binged this book today and really enjoyed it. Thanks for your enjoyable take on it

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад +3

      Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for dropping by and saying hi

  • @readandre-read
    @readandre-read Год назад +7

    This topic is a nerdy delight. I am thoroughly enjoying the discussions that are arising. Thanks for digging into it.

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад +1

      I can't wait to dive into the discourse around this one, feels like there's some meat on those bones

  • @lindysmagpiereads
    @lindysmagpiereads Год назад +3

    A thoughtful video, as usual. Thanks for this. Can’t wait to get to Yellowface.

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад +2

      Thanks! Can't wait to see the discourse around this one

  • @gillianwinzinger9558
    @gillianwinzinger9558 Год назад +3

    Oh how happy I am when I see a new video from you popping up.

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад

      Thank you, too kind! Sorry it's been so sporadic as of late.

  • @alldbooks9165
    @alldbooks9165 Год назад +1

    Your upcoming travels sound so exciting!

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад

      Have you done any exploring in China or surrounding region? I'd love to get out that way but it would be incredible hard cramming it all in a week and I don't know if my body could handle the time change!

  • @timtillack
    @timtillack Год назад +2

    New subscriber. Excellent review! Thanks for spilling the tea and highlighting the internet lore - some of which I knew and the rest filled the gaps. A superb novel for the current zeitgeist.

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад

      Thanks for that! Glad to have you here

  • @themusicsnob
    @themusicsnob Год назад +3

    This books sounds so good and I am excited to pick it up once it comes off the library holds list

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад +2

      I imagine that list got pretty long, pretty fast!

  • @karakask5488
    @karakask5488 Год назад +1

    This was on the list; now its much higher on that list! Thanks for the review. It brings up a lot of thoughts for me about who writes what, and also who is "allowed" to write what. It's an interesting conversation and one that needs to be had, both at large in the book community and also individually for ourselves.

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад +2

      I've always like Alexander Chee's approach to writing the "other" - there's a great Vulture article on it

    • @karakask5488
      @karakask5488 Год назад

      @ThePoptimist That was a great article! Thanks for recommending it. Asking questions about who is writing what about whom is never a bad thing.

  • @Sayantika_Sarkar
    @Sayantika_Sarkar Год назад

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts and inspiring me to explore this thought-provoking book. Keep up the fantastic content! 👍

  • @TheCarlScharnberg
    @TheCarlScharnberg 7 месяцев назад

    Good review. I loved this book. My fave of the year.

  • @1book1review
    @1book1review Год назад +3

    Yes, yes, and yes. All the same thoughts (not so good with all the references you pulled out of a hat). I actually hadn't heard of it before, but saw your review and immediately decided to finally read something by her (her other books didn't grab my interest as much) before watching this. I listened to the audio in basically two long sittings and was just captivated and hooked by the whole mess that the narrator is and the look at publishing and bookish online community from various angles. Loved it. Also ended wondering if normies would get it or even enjoy it as much as the community will. Especially the ending. Great review as always David.

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад +1

      That ending was just the icing on the cake and so much the vibe, at least here in North America. But yeah, I'm curious how normies will feel about the whole thing because bookish me had synapses firing off in recognition the entire time. Glad you enjoyed it too!

  • @karez145
    @karez145 11 месяцев назад +1

    I love this review ❤

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  11 месяцев назад +1

      you are too kind - thank you!

  • @R_A_M_9_1
    @R_A_M_9_1 Год назад +3

    Everyone has a bullet with their name on it in _Yellowface_ 😈

  • @kathyarrr
    @kathyarrr Год назад

    I pre-ordered this one on the strength of Book Riot’s review and your review might be bumping it up the reading list. 😊

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад +1

      Book Riot did get a proper mention in the book, cementing its place in the online bookish world - I'm with them in this one being a solid it book favourite for May.

  • @Robert.Sheard
    @Robert.Sheard Год назад +1

    This raises so many issues. Sometime I need to pick your brain about a couple of them. Looking forward to reading this one.

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад

      Anytime, would love to get into it. Really I need to find an excuse to visit sometimes for a drink (though I dread to mention that I've been enjoying some gin with the sunny weather and finding I like a good gin & tonic!)

    • @Robert.Sheard
      @Robert.Sheard Год назад +1

      @@ThePoptimist Anytime you're traveling in this region, my cabinet is open. I haven't tried gin yet, but watched a video recently that almost had me picking up a bottle of Hendricks.

  • @paulwinchell6904
    @paulwinchell6904 Год назад

    Good to see you back. Was beginning to think you had traded the snow of Canada for the humidity and
    hurricanes of New Orleans, cigars whiskey and music. But naaah. Babel hit me like a solid left hook. When I finished I walked around being godsmacked for a couple of days. I have not read any of her other work I'm ashamed to say. Will correct this soon. So I'll be looking for Yellow face at my library. Have great week my friend.

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад

      You too! Back in the world of grey skies and spring rain but it's nice to slip back into a routine for a bit at least. Forewarned though, like I said Yellowface is a huge turn from the dense colonizer tome of a book that is Babel - this is way more airport read with a somewhat unlikeable single narrator ala Girl on a Train. It's the publishing tea that hooked me.

  • @bbear27777
    @bbear27777 Год назад

    I will admit I wasnt drawn to this one, but as always, your review makes me interested! How do you do it 😁

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад

      individual results may vary but if you're into bookish internet lore how could you not want to read this one. Hope you do get around to checking it out whatever it was I said that piqued your interest - always happy to put books into the hands of eager readers!

  • @davidnovakreadspoetry
    @davidnovakreadspoetry Год назад +1

    “ ‘I demand to speak to the manager’ white”! 😂😂

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад +1

      LOL - come on, like that isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you see her author photo (especially considering the expectation that came with the name See)

    • @davidnovakreadspoetry
      @davidnovakreadspoetry Год назад

      You’re right. I wanted to say something but was feeling too dull to do better. (Of course the name sometimes conjures up See’s Candies with me. Dunno if there’s a relation…

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад +1

      Dammit man, I had to look that up and now I just want chocolate!

  • @curioushmm9027
    @curioushmm9027 Год назад

    have fun seeing the world but come back to booktube soon with more fun like this..do need to read some kuang in the not to distant future..meanwhile i'm loving creatures of passage by morowa yedide and all i can say is WOW WOW WOW.

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад

      At my age I love travel, but also love the routine of an otherwise mundane week at home.

  • @muoian
    @muoian 6 месяцев назад +1

    Loved yellowface and am currently reading disorientation . Any recommendations in this same line of reading ???

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  6 месяцев назад +1

      Pulling at the theme of being Asian-American in this modern world there's Days of Distraction by Alexandra Chang and Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. Being othered in publishing there's The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

    • @muoian
      @muoian 6 месяцев назад

      @@ThePoptimist thank you so much ! Added to the reading list . Happy new Year 🎊

  • @L_Jyll_Dixon
    @L_Jyll_Dixon Год назад +2

    #allyourfavsareproblematic…a.k.a. the moment I subscribed to your channel. Happy the algorithms led me this way!🤗

    • @ThePoptimist
      @ThePoptimist  Год назад

      ..wait does that mean I'm #problematic? At least I rank a #fav and am also happy for the algorithmic overlords as they bring folks to me here - welcome!

    • @christinaka3190
      @christinaka3190 11 месяцев назад

      Same!😄 Came from Merphy's recommendation stayed for #allyourfavsareproblematic 🤭

  • @Between2_worlds
    @Between2_worlds 7 месяцев назад

    The American Dirt saga pissed me off so bad.